Where Ancient Temple Art
Becomes a Living Gateway

The main entrance of Gita Press, Gorakhpur, Gitadwar (गीताद्वार), is one of the most architecturally significant gateways in India. It is not merely a gate; it is a carefully conceived spiritual and cultural statement about the unified nature of Indian civilisation.

The design principle was bold and unique: every element of the Gitadwar would be directly inspired by a specific section of a specific ancient temple or sacred site from across India. No element would be generic. Every arch, every carved frieze, every section of the gate would trace its lineage directly to one of India's greatest temples, from Ellora (Maharashtra) to Konark (Odisha), from Meenakshi Mandir (Tamil Nadu) to Kedarnath (Uttarakhand).

The philosophical intent was equally bold: to demonstrate visually that India's diverse spiritual traditions (Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Sikh) all spring from the same cultural root. The Gitadwar was designed to be sacred to a devotee of any tradition who approaches it.

Hinduism, the designers noted, is a comprehensive tradition; Buddhist, Jain, and Sikh temple arts are all expressions of the same underlying Indian cultural consciousness. The Gitadwar therefore draws from temples of all four traditions, creating a gateway that is truly representative of all of India's sacred heritage.